SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State leads 6-1. The Bears won 28-0 in the first meeting at the 1921 Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes won 35-28 last year in Columbus.

STORYLINES: The Bears conclude their three-game, season-opening homestand against the No. 4 Buckeyes, hoping to beat a nonconference top-5 opponent for the first time since toppling No. 4 Alabama 13-0 in the Jan. 1, 1938 Rose Bowl. Cal has lost 18 straight nonconference games to top-5 foes since then. . . . OSU, playing at Berkeley for the first time since 1972, has a 14-game win streak, best in the nation. ... Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller is a game-time decision because of a sprained left knee. If he can't go, senior backup Kenny Guiton gets the call.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Cal's running game vs. the Ohio State defense. The Bears need to rev up their ground attack to provide a complement to the passing game, triggered by freshman Jared Goff, the NCAA passing yardage leader. It won't be easy against a Buckeyes defense that has allowed just 137 rushing yards in two games, at just 2.2 yards per attempt, and has not given up a rushing touchdown.

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STATS THAT MATTER: Cal is eighth nationally in total offense (582.5 yards per game), but just tied for 54th in scoring (33.5 ppg), partly because five of its 10 red-zone opportunities have ended in field goals. ... Cal is 4-50 all-time vs. top-5 opponents, winning just once in 27 tries since 1975. ... Ohio State has not allowed a point in the first or fourth quarters. ... Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer is 44-4 in games played in August or September.